During the first stage of the study, which took place between 2006 and 2009, researchers at the University of Southampton developed a technique to better evaluate the forefeet and diagnose the 'marbles' using diagnostic ultrasound.
A third stage used an MRI scan to visualise the anatomical structures and 'marbles' more clearly in the forefeet (see photo) and resulted in researchers developing the first ever atlas to categorise the swellings originally identified in stage one.
1 : a burrowing animal that is about the size of a large rat and has strong claws on the
forefeet and a large fur-lined pouch on the outside of each cheek
In the case of devices with good suspension and relatively stiff
forefeet, such as the clamshell prostheses in which the forefoot has been made by cutting down a conventional prosthetic foot, a conventional marker set may yield acceptable results.
Brachiosaurus and Camarasaurus, sauropods that had relatively long front limbs and a balanced weight distribution, floated with their
forefeet deeper than their back feet, Henderson found.
